As of Sunday, 5,040 Hoosiers have died from COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. The most recent 1,000 confirmed deaths were reported over the span of just 24 days.
State health officials say there are an additional 265 suspected COVID-19 deaths – where a test wasn’t administered but health care professionals believe the person had the virus.
The rate of newly reported deaths has continued to climb in the last several weeks. After averaging around 10 deaths per day in late summer, the state is now averaging more than 30 dead per day for the last month.
Since moving to Stage 5 on Sept. 26, the state has reported 1,650 new confirmed deaths. Lake and St. Joseph counties have reported more than 100 deaths, and Vanderburgh County has nearly tripled its total deaths in that span.
Five counties – Martin, Union, Switzerland, Jay and Benton counties – reported their first confirmed deaths in the last 24 days.
ISDH has reported 311 new deaths in the last week – surpassing the state’s previous one week high from April.
Contact Lauren at lchapman@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @laurenechapman_.